₦airaland Forum

Former Minister of National Planning, Prince Clement Agba, has said that the Federal Government should not be blamed for multidimensional poverty in the country.

Agba made the statement while delivering a presentation at the Honourary National Steering Committee Meeting and Dinner with the OGP Global Support Unit.

He argued that state governments and local government areas should bear the responsibility, as they are constitutionally empowered to provide the facilities required to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

According to him, multidimensional poverty refers to the lack of access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, sanitation, and potable water.

Agba noted that the country’s constitution clearly assigns responsibility for these services to state and local governments.

“Who should be blamed for the 133 million Nigerians who are multidimensionally poor? The Federal Government? No. The states? Yes. The 774 local councils? Yes.

“And why is this so? When governors assume office, they often concentrate about 80 per cent of resources in state capitals.

“I am glad that Mr. President has been speaking about this in the last two weeks. We forget the communities. We forget the local governments.

“Instead of state and local governments focusing on building primary healthcare centres, they concentrate on tertiary healthcare, which is not their responsibility,” he said.

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2026/02/04/why-fg-shouldnt-be-blamed-for-poverty-in-nigeria-ex-minister-clement-agba/

Nigeria’s poverty is the consequence of a population that keeps empowering failure.

Nigerians repeatedly vote for corrupt, incompetent, spineless characters and then act surprised when the country sinks deeper into ruin.

How, Just how on earth can you elect a man widely branded a drug peddler and street-level thug as president.

Before nko

we should blame who?

no, come and blame me

I have the keys to your treasury and I deduct 100 billion every month unapproved

Moderator101:
Nigeria’s poverty is the consequence of a population that keeps empowering failure.

Nigerians repeatedly vote for corrupt, incompetent, spineless characters and then act surprised when the country sinks deeper into ruin.

How, Just how on earth can you elect a man widely branded a drug peddler and street-level thug as president.

Nigerians don't hold their leaders to account, from ward to Presidency. They never do that but when it's the ordinary man who is not in office, their mouth is sharp. When it's for the person using their own money, they become cats. Coward move.

When Agbadorians were blaming GEJ, to the extent that Ebola Balablu have to admit that everything rests on the tables of the president. The buck rests on his table. So why Una come de absolve him to blame Governors and LG Chairmen?

Up until now, I don't understand the removal of fuel subsidy and why are people been taxed

The bulk stops at the table of FG.
They are the ones ultimately responsible for making policies that affect Nigerians.

It's their responsibility to identify the problem and profer solutions.

Obi should be blamed, obi’s policies and his demarketing of Nigeria over here is the reason Nigerians are in poverty…. Yarimo I haven’t received my 30k naira for last month, admin is not taking my calls or responding to my messages

Half truths.... What about power supply and food security?

Evil FG is the cause and should be cursed and not blamed

you notice no one blamed Satan in the garden of eden.well Satan and his demons that asked this question in 2015 are in charge now

This is complete utter nonsense, considering what is on the ground.

The states can only build on the foundation the central government lays.

The truth is that Buhari ruined the economy and Tinubu is repairing it. Okonji-Iweala and Charles SDoludo have praised the reforms and the World Bank is now using Nigeria as a reference point.

When the economy is finally quite strong, then the states can make discernable differences in the life of the citizens.

i agree with him what are the lowe arm of govt doing

And where can 95 percent of these sub-national leaders be found today, the ruling party.

Which means a total disconnect between our type of politics and the quality of governance it delivers. That everyone joins the ruling APC will not shift the poverty needle one inch just as it did not during the totalitarian regimes of the PDP of yesteryears.

Let all the government at all levels reduce their spending.
How can the president be spending unnecessary, even a governor purchased a photocopier at over 200 million naira.

Moderator101:
Nigeria’s poverty is the consequence of a population that keeps empowering failure.

Nigerians repeatedly vote for corrupt, incompetent, spineless characters and then act surprised when the country sinks deeper into ruin.

How, Just how on earth can you elect a man widely branded a drug peddler and street-level thug as president.

Your type only know federal government and are never willing to hold the crooks you voted as governors.

It is your type that are defending the likes of Otti who is on record to construct the most expensive roads at 6bn per kilometer for a single lane asphalt road .

Same Otti has budgeted over 250 million to buy one photocopier machine but you will never say pim but when its the FG or any other state governor outside your SE we will see you pontificating

They say something anytime their pockets begin to dry.

The removal of subsidy and the increment in fuel prices and hardship, is for bulaba to recoup the money he spent by bribing his way up to the Judi-sharing during the 2023 sELECTION.

donleo92:
Up until now, I don't understand the removal of fuel subsidy and why are people been taxed

Moderator101:
Nigeria’s poverty is the consequence of a population that keeps empowering failure.

Nigerians repeatedly vote for corrupt, incompetent, spineless characters and then act surprised when the country sinks deeper into ruin.

How, Just how on earth can you elect a man widely branded a drug peddler and street-level thug as president.

That so called thug is the one ruling the whole 36 states and 774 LGA right?
May normal Nigerians never experience a day an obedient will ever rule this country. May it never happen forever, Ase.

Moderator101:
Nigeria’s poverty is the consequence of a population that keeps empowering failure.

Nigerians repeatedly vote for corrupt, incompetent, spineless characters and then act surprised when the country sinks deeper into ruin.

How, Just how on earth can you elect a man widely branded a drug peddler and street-level thug as president.

I don't like the way you people say this vote of a thing as if our votes really counts in this country, no be criminals dey disagree over transmission of results.

He is right i blame my ward councillor for the mess we found ourselves in this country.

Moderator101:
Nigeria’s poverty is the consequence of a population that keeps empowering failure.

Nigerians repeatedly vote for corrupt, incompetent, spineless characters and then act surprised when the country sinks deeper into ruin.

How, Just how on earth can you elect a man widely branded a drug peddler and street-level thug as president.

A population that can't keep their pants on

Lzkdy:
The removal of subsidy and the increment in fuel prices and hardship, is for bulaba to recoup the money he spent by bribing his way up to the Judi-sharing during the 2023 sELECTION.

This is the best explanation so far, coupled with the forthcoming one...

He knows he would be spending

grandstar:
This is complete utter nonsense.

The states can only build on the foundation the central government lays.

The truth is that Buhari ruined the economy and Tinubu is repairing it. Okonji-Iweala and Charles SDoludo have praised the reforms and the World Bank is now using Nigeria as a reference point.

what are you saying what foundation, imagine an improvised state spending billions on airport and malls spending money on frivolities. you expect the federal power to spoon feed everyone.

we at the point to hold all councilors, chairman, state rep, fed house of rep, senators, governors more accountable for their job

Let APVC address Local Government autonomy. Ogun State is suffering from this crisis under Abiodun

floss:
Obi should be blamed, obi’s policies and his demarketing of Nigeria over here is the reason Nigerians are in poverty…. Yarimo I haven’t received my 30k naira for last month, admin is not taking my calls or responding to my messages

Who is Obi? I hear so many Nigerians especially those from the East shouting Obi Obi Obi, who the FFFk is he?

A nobody going around making useless noise.....

I go blame myself. Thieves.

What were you politicians doing before you rigged yourselves to that position or before you bribed yourselves into that appointment?

Why have you not gone back to your profession at the elapse of your tenure or appointment?

Could you show the world your account details before and during and after the appointment or position?

All of una are to be blamed for making Nigeria the poverty headquarters of the world.

ibedun:
Who is Obi? I hear so many Nigerians especially those from the East shouting Obi Obi Obi, who the FFFk is he?

A nobody going around making useless noise.....

Is it Tinubu that kept Nigerians in poverty, is it not obi that kept Nigerians in poverty ?

Moderator101:
He argued that state governments and local government areas should bear the responsibility, as they are constitutionally empowered to provide the facilities required to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

According to him, multidimensional poverty refers to the lack of access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, sanitation, and potable water.

So why is the president alone getting 53% of the jointly owned federation across while 36 states share only 27%, and the 774 LGAs struggle with just 20%

BrickandLace:
A population that can't keep their pants on

The federal government is to blame.

The federal government would easily get foreign aid if it chose to enlighten the populace about family planning.

If family planning schemes had been given enough energy as polio vaccination since 1999, I am certain the average woman in the South would have no more than 2 kids by now, and in the entire north 4.

In Bangladesh, the fertility rate is 2.2, which is close to the replacement rate. Egypt is similar. Which means even Muslims can be made to embrace it.

More babies simply mean more public schools need to be built for instance

Hmmm ... this was the man responsible for planning ..... now we know why there is ehmmm ... .multidimensional poverty. Is there any end in sight? ... not with him lecturing upcoming planners. The FG dash money to the States ...no oversight ... the.States can do as they please with the money ...whatever happens the FG is not to be blamed. Some people just need to be stoned.